Iconic director, performer and choreographer Debbie Allen has been selected to receive the Television Academy’s 2021 Governors Award, “in recognition of her numerous contributions to the television medium through multiple creative forms and her philanthropic endeavors around the world.” Allen, a staple in TV and film for decades, was chosen by the Television Academy’s Board
James McAvoy says he’s always interested in taking on challenging acting gigs. His newest project — “Twelve Minutes,” an interactive crime thriller in which he stars as a man trapped in a murderous 12-minute time loop — certainly tested the Scottish thespian’s skills and stamina. McAvoy, whose credits include playing Prof. Charles Xavier in several
Legendary singer Tony Bennett — who celebrated his 95th birthday just last week, performing with Lady Gaga at two-sold out shows at New York’s Radio City Music Hall — has canceled his Fall 2021 tour dates. The tour — consisting of pre-pandemic shows dates had been rescheduled — was slated to begin in September. The
In one of the strongest statements yet made by a major player in support of a pro-vaccination policy in the live music industry, AEG Presents, the second-largest live company in the country, has announced that proof of vaccination will be required going forward for ticketholders and crew at all the venues it owns or operates
“Pose” co-creator, showrunner and director Steven Canals knew from the beginning that his 1980s- and ’90s-set ballroom culture cable drama was going to rest firmly on the shoulders of Blanca Rodriguez (played by Michaela Jaé “Mj” Rodriguez), a young trans woman and house mother diagnosed with HIV early on in the series’ run. He also
In flashing back to college-age Annie on Hulu’s “Shrill,” Aidy Bryant felt as if she had traveled back in time. “I was getting caught up in my own emotions,” says Bryant. “It was almost like visiting an old self.” The unflattering costume reminded her of a person who used to hide behind clothing and, to
Early on in the new Peacock series “Ex-Rated,” host Andy Cohen does something somewhat unusual, for him: He gives a little bit of himself. Speaking to a guest who is currently pregnant as a surrogate parent, he says, “Surrogates are very special to me, and I think they’re just God’s children,” he says, adding that
When the Emmy nominations for lead comedy actress were announced this year, it was quite a pleasant surprise to see Allison Janney’s name back on the list. Janney had last been nominated for “Mom” in 2018, and with the CBS sitcom wrapping things up in May after eight seasons (170 episodes), this was her final
Nielsen said it would move forward without the backing of the media industry’s Media Rating Council, the latest eyebrow-raising maneuver in a months-long feud between the media-measurement giant and the TV networks whose viewers it has counted for decades. “We believe hiatus is the best course of action at this time and will allow us
Una Stubbs, beloved actor on television shows like “Sherlock,” “Worzel Gummidge,” “Till Death Us Do Part” and “EastEnders,” has died aged 84. She died at her home in Edinburgh surrounded by her family, her agent Rebecca Blond said. She had been ill for a few months, the agent told BBC News. “We are desperately sad
Female characters continue to prove they’re more than just one thing, despite complicated life circumstances and the labels others insist on placing on them. This year’s crop of lead actress Emmy nominees do it with aplomb, using preconceived notions to gain power or to tell comeback stories. Often underestimated, these characters reconcile how others see
Variety's Awards Circuit is home to the official predictions for the upcoming Emmys ceremonies from film awards editor Clayton Davis. Following history, buzz, news, reviews and sources, the Emmy predictions are updated regularly with the current year's list of contenders in all categories. Variety's Awards Circuit Prediction schedule consists of four phases, running all year
Amazon Prime Video is hoping to caffeinate your Emmy vote via pop-up For Your Consideration a coffee truck activation around Los Angeles. The mobile coffee truck, promoting Prime Video’s Emmy nominations, will be stationed around town from Aug. 13 to Aug. 17, leading up to Phase Two Emmy voting (which starts Aug. 19). The free
SPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not yet watched “American Horror Stories” Season 1, Episode 6, “Feral,” streaming now on FX on Hulu. The penultimate episode of “American Horror Stories” took a look at the classic horror trope of “something terrifying is lurking in the woods.” It followed a family on a weekend
Choreographer Dondraico Johnson brought his talent for putting together captivating live performances into National Geographic’s “Genius: Aretha,” where he reimagined some of the Queen of Soul’s most memorable concerts, down to hundreds of extras all feeling the music through period appropriate moves. His efforts on the eight-episode limited series earned him his first attention from
The life work of Gene Roddenberry, the creator of “Star Trek,” will be meticulously captured and catalogued in a new digital archive from leading tech company OTOY. The multimedia Roddenberry Archive will produce everything from holographic and digital renderings of the famous Starship Enterprise vessel to TV and movie sets. The effort will be formally
Sometimes, when an artist makes a featured appearance on another artist’s song, you can tell that it’s just a payday — the featured artist got a nice check to add credibility to another artist that they don’t really know or maybe even respect. (No examples are necessary — we see them every week.) Then there
Jukin Media, the 12-year-old digital firm specializing in acquiring and licensing user-generated video, has been acquired by lifestyle media company Trusted Media Brands. The price tag of the all-cash deal wasn’t disclosed. The acquisition brings together Jukin’s library of 70,000 licensed UGC clips — spanning a range of viral stunts, pranks, pratfalls and more —
Warner Music Entertainment, the film and television division of Warner Music Group (WMG), and London and Los Angeles based television and film production company Lightbox, have signed a partnership deal to co-produce, co-develop and co-finance non-fiction film and TV projects. The deal gives Lightbox, founded by double Oscar winner Simon Chinn (“Searching For Sugar Man,”
Check out The Nowhere Inn Official Trailer starring St. Vincent and Carrie Brownstein! Let us know what you think in the comments below. ► Sign up for a Fandango FanALERT for The Nowhere Inn: https://www.fandango.com/the-nowhere-inn-2021-225331/movie-overview?cmp=Indie_YouTube_Desc Want to be notified of all the latest indie movies? Subscribe to the channel and click the bell icon to
Big World Pictures has acquired all U.S. and Canadian rights to “A Man of Integrity,” the 2017 feature from Iranian auteur Mohammad Rasoulof that won the top prize in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival. The film, the writer-director’s sixth, tells the story of a goldfish farmer with a keen sense
Directed by Elene Naveriani and written alongside brother Sandro Naveriani, “Wet Sand” world premieres today in the Cineasti del Presente competition at Switzerland’s Locarno Festival. Very much in line with the section’s mission statement, the Swiss-Georgian co-production is a vibrant example of emerging talent that has quickly grown into versatile auteurs with a striking control
London-based sales agency Alief has come on board “Runner,” directed by Andrius Blaževičius, which world premieres in the East of the West Competition at the Karlovy Vary Intl. Film Festival. The film stars Žygimantė Elena Jakštaitė, who was selected for Shooting Stars, European Film Promotion’s prestigious program for rising European actors, at this year’s Berlinale.
iQiyi, China’s second largest generalist subscription video platform, weighed in with net losses of RMB1.40 billion ($216 million) in the second quarter of 2021, compared with losses of RMB1.44 billion ($222 million) in the April to June period in 2020. Revenues also improved fractionally, from RMB7.41 billion last time to RMB7.61 billion ($1.17 billion). Net
Grasshopper Film has acquired Marta Popivoda’s “Landscapes of Resistance,” a feature-length documentary about a 97-year-old antifascist fighter that premiered in Rotterdam and will compete this week at the Sarajevo Film Festival, Variety can reveal. The deal covers U.S. non-theatrical and digital distributions rights. “Landscapes of Resistance” tells the story of Sonja, who was one of
Buenos Aires-based Compañía de Cine has swooped on sales rights to “Mostro,” a trenchant take on one consequence of violence in Mexico: Its thousands of women who suddenly join the ranks of Mexico’s “disappeared.” The boutique sales company is introducing the feature to buyers at this week’s Locarno Film Festival where it world premiered Wednesday
Variety has been given exclusive access to the trailer for “Toma,” Dragan Bjelogrlić’s biopic about Serbian singer Toma Zdravković, which closes the Sarajevo Film Festival. “Toma” is a portrait of the iconic singer-songwriter, who was born in the former Yugoslavia and was known as much for his music as his bohemian way of life. Released
Is this a sign of bubbling dot-com exuberance? Reddit announced that it is raising up to $700 million in additional funding, giving the community-discussion site a post-money valuation of more than $10 billion, the company said. The new Series F funding, led by existing investor Fidelity Management and Research Co., includes participation from other previous
The previously completed merger of social media giant Facebook and Giphy, the largest provider of GIFs, and meme sharing services, has run into a potential roadblock from the U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Following an investigation, the CMA has provisionally found that Facebook’s 2020 takeover of Giphy would negatively impact competition between social media
In a bid to further expand its international network of young talent to South Asia, Locarno Pro, the industry section of the Locarno Film Festival, has launched an unprecedented partnership between the South Asia – Locarno Industry Academy and NFDC Film Bazaar. Aimed at young professionals active in sales, cinema management, traditional or online distribution, and